About Me

Manu Sharma New Delhi / Gurgaon, India

Since mid 2006 I have grappled with climate change and what it means for us. As an activist and campaigner, I sought to learn and simultaneously, attempted to influence the issues surrounding it - in technology and policy advocacy. As a consultant, I studied markets and created portfolios in sustainability services and renewable energy investment.

After thousands of hours of research, tenacious activism, working up-close with NGOs as well as the industry, delivering about two dozen public talks, countless conferences, hundreds of online discussions, a few media appearances (including Reuters, News Television, and BBC radio), and continuous evolution of my own ideas about what ought to be done - I may have found some answers but the issue remains far from being addressed.

In the despair filled world of climate change the only place I've found real and lasting hope is in a beautiful vision inspired by "The Ringing Cedars of Russia" book series by Vladimir Megre. The books have triggered a transition movement in Russia and have profoundly influenced me. I am now working towards the vision.

Climate Revolution Initiative, an RTI campaign I founded and ran for a few years is now retired. I no longer deliver talks. I still consider myself an activist though and occasionally post on Green-India group started over nine years ago.

Older entries in this blog relate to my former occupation in user experience design; long time interest in business innovation, strategy, ethics; and venture creation.

Image on top of this bar is courtesy book covers of The Ringing Cedars series published under Croatian translation. (Source)

March 07, 2006

BarCampDelhi: Web2.0 Spills Over to the Real World

One of the most interesting features of the uh, "unconference" was the format of the event itself. Unlike a traditional conference, there's no peer-review of proposed presentations by a committee before the event. Anyone can propose a talk on anything though most talks are centered on emerging technologies and you have to register it on the wiki in advance for logistical purposes and so that people know what will be at the event.

Also unlike a traditional conference, Barcamp speakers are young and enthusiastic and not big luminaries from the industry that we see at every conference. There are no organisers, everyone pitches in do part of the work. Participation is free and so is food and everything else. Sponsors of the event provide for the facilities and the t-shirts.

So, by its very structure BarCamp is very "Web2.0". I'm yet to embrace that acronym completely but if "Web2.0" represents web applications that are open, collaborative, free and disruptive then BarCamp is all about Web2.0. A rare example of values seen on the web being replicated in the physical world.